Molins linking machine cal. 30



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 18, 1958 w. M. JONES MOLINS LINKING MACHINE CAL.

Filed June 21, 1955 INVENTOR. WurhingLnn M. Jones IQ/MIQM ATTORNEYS,

March 1958 w. M. JbNEs 2,826,955

MOLINS LINKING MACHINE CAL.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 21, 1955 INVENTOR. Wurlhin Pc on M..r T unesATTORNEYS MOLINS LING MACHINE CAL. .30

Worthington M. Jones, Hamden, Conn, assignor to the United States ofAmerica as represented by the ecretary of the Army Application June 21.,1955, Serial No. 517,101

4 Claims. (Cl. 86-48) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), see.266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by orfor the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to meof any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to an improvement in the link abutment platesforming a part of the belt of a machine for linking or assembling beltsof machine gun ammunition of the so-called disintegrating type whereinthe easing of each cartridge forms the pivotal interconnection betweenmating loops of a corresponding pair of belt links. Such a machine isdisclosed in Patent 2,335,646, granted November 30, 1943, in the name ofJohn W. Chalmers. This machine consists essentially of an endless beltformed of a series of interpivoted blocks which passes over and abouttwo spaced drums or sprocket wheel assemblies. The outer faces of theseblocks are grooved or fluted to form parallel channels, spaced by thedistance between consecutive cartridges in the completed belt anddisposed transversely to the direction of travel of the belt. As thebelt is driven, mechanism operating automatically in timed relation withtravel of the belt, separately feeds links and cartridges into theflutes of the upper pass of the belt as it moves over a flat supportingsurface or table. The positions are such that each link lies properlypositioned in a channel at one end of its plate, with its single loop inone channel interposed between the double loops of the preceding linkand its double loops in the next succeeding channel. The mechanismreferred to deposits one cartridge in each channel with the nose of itsbullet about inch from the contiguous loop of those occupying thatchannel.

As the block belt progresses it travels past mechanism which engages theheads of the cartridge casings and progressively forces them toward andinto the mating loops in each successive channel to thereby pivotallyconnect the links. Axial movement ofeach cartridge continues until it isfully seated in the loops, with its reduced neck portion within theforward one of the double'loops.

These double loops of each link grip the casing of its cartridge firmlyso that a substantial force must be applied axially to the head of thecartridge casing to force it into position. 'The reaction to this forceis taken by abutments or end plates, one secured to each block of theaforesaid endless belt. Each plate is secured to the side surface of ablock at the ends on which the links are automatically deposited and hasa serrated edge which upstands above the surface of its block and sodimensioned that the bullet and the forward portion of the neck of eachcartridge may pass between side walls of a serration while the frontloop of the corresponding link is engaged and held as the cartridge isforced into position as an integral part of the ammunition belt. 7

The present invention relates to an improvement in the aforementionedend plates of which each machine requires a large number.

In the belt link referred to, as fabricated, the forward edge of theforward ,or first loop, that is, the one which 7 extends about and gripsthe reduced, bullet-receiving end 7 2,826,955 Patented Mar. 18, 1958 reeof the cartridge case, has a small inclination in both the horizontaland vertical planes, with respect to the central axis of the loops. Inthe prior art machine referred to, the channels formed in the fiutedblocks of the belt are at right angles to the direction of belt traveland, of course, at the same angle with respect to the end plates rigidlyattached to the ends of the blocks.

As a result the forward edges of the forward loops contacted theserrations over a limited portion only of their peripheries so that thecenter'of reaction between this loop and the end plate, as the cartridgewas forced into mating loops of a pair of links, was offset (1) belowthe common axis of the loops and (2) rearwardly of such axis withrespect to the direction of belt travel. This resulted in a couple beingapplied to the link when axial thrust was applied to the cartridge whichtended not only to turn the link out of its channel in both the vertical1 and horizontal planes, but also tended to deform or turn the forwardloop out of axial alignment with its companion loop. As a result of thedistortion of the forward loop the thrust necessary to force thecartridges into the loops was excessive with consequent frequentbreakage of links, cramping and destruction of cartridges, excessivewear on the end plates and frequent stoppages for repairs and loss ofproduction schedules due to the fact that links sometimes passed beyondtheir normal support point and into the serrations between end plates. 7

The main objects of the invention are, therefore, to provide an endplate for the block belt of a linking machine of the type describedwhich overcomes the aforesaid drawbacks, which affords the fullestpossible peripheral support for the forward edge of the forward loop asit takes the thrust engendered by forcing a cartridge into the loops,which firmly maintains the links against turning or twisting withrespect to the end plates reduces the thrust necessary to force thecartridges into position, largely eliminates link breakage, destructionof cartridge cases and which increases to a remarkable degree theproduction capacity of the machine.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a study of thefollowing description in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating a portion of alinking machine cartridge conveyor and showing the application of an endplate of the invention thereto,

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken along line 22 of Fig. l and looking inthe direction of the arrows,

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a fragmental plan view of a portion of the linking machineshown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of an end plate of the invention,

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. .5, aportion of a cartridge link being shown nestled within the counter-bore,

Fig. 7 is a cross section of an end plate showing the counter-boredlirnk supporting surface and a cartridge link in broken lines asillustrated in position after assembly, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of an end plate illustratingthe counter-bored link-supporting surface.

Referring in detail to the drawing, numeral 1, Figs; 1 and 2, identifiesthe frame of that portion of a machine of the type described wherein theassembled ammunition belt B is being drawn oif the machine. A shaft 2ais journaled in the frame and has fixed thereon a pair of identicalsprockets'z having toothed peripheries to engage and positively drive ablock belt generally identified at 3. The belt consists of a pluralityof pivotally interconnected blocks 4 having grooved outer faces todefine a plurality of parallel equally-spaced channels 5 extendingtransversely of the direction of belt travel and spaced by the distancebetween successive cartridges in the co1upleted ammunition belt. I

Each block 4 is shown as having four channels with half-channels at itsends which, in conjunction with the half-channel of the preceding andfollowing blocks, form a complete channel so that, when the upper passof the belt is moving over the plane supporting surface in, Fig. 2formed as a portion of the machine frame, a continuous row of equallyspaced channels is formed.

The blocks are provided with integrally connected flanges 6 dependingfrom their inner faces at the respective edges thereof and the ends ofthese flanges are drilled to receive pivot bolts 8 by which contiguousblocks are connected .to the respective ends of short links 7 wherebyflexibility of the belt is provided and a space between blocks providedto receive teeth 2b of the sprockets 2 by which the belt is positivelydriven in timed relation with rotation of the sprockets. The mechanismsby which the links and cartridges are deposited in the channels of theupper pass of the block belt and the means for forcing the cartridges insuccession axially along the channels to force them into the matingloops of a pair of contiguous links, are not shown as these form no partof the invention and are, moreover, disclosed in the patent previouslyidentified.

Each of the blocks 4 is provided at the side edge to-- ward which thecartridges are moved, with an abutment plate 9, secured to its block asby flat head screws 10 passing through countersunk holes 9a in the plateand into threaded bores in the block. Each plate has an edge upstandingabove the outer face of its plate which edge is serrated to defineprojections 11 having rounded bottoms 12. As will be clear from Figs. 4and 5, the end plates are so formed that the bullet of a cartridge willpass smoothly between projections 11 while the forward loop, of the linkwill abut the edges thereof. Each plate is so connected with its blockthat each projection lies in the same vertical transverse plane as arespective ridge 4 of its block.

Referring'to Fig. 8 in particular, it will be noted that the area aboutand between consecutive projections 11 '1 of the end plate 9 iscounterbored as at 14 to receive and seat that portion of the forwardloop 15 of a link 16 when the cartridge is forced into linking relationtherewith. The axis of the counterbore has a downward in clination ofabout 2 with respect to the axis of the flutes in the block 4 as shownin Fig. 7 and also an inclination of about 5 rearwardly of the axis ofthe flutes with respect to the direction of belt travel as shown in Fig.6.

By the construction described in the foregoingv paragraph, and asindicated in the figures referred to,'the forward edge of the loop ofeach link is in contact with bottom of the counterbore 14 to the maximumperipheral extent possible, with the result that the axis of the loopsof each link is maintained in alignmentwith the axis oi" the cartridgeas it is thrust into the loops, and no couple is developed tending toturn or distort the loops. 7 As a result, the thrust necessary to forcethe cartridges into the loops is a minimum and breakage of links,damaging or destruction of cartridges and damage to the machine ispractically eliminated.

My invention results in a very great increase in productivity of alinking machine equipped therewith. As an example,with a machine of thetype described, but using a belt block with end plates of conventionalcon struction a production rate of about 285,215 linked cartridges perl6-hour day was sustained, with one pro duction day as low as 59,250cartridges due to stoppages caused by breakage and jamming of links.After the machine was equipped with end plates constructed in accordancewith the invention a sustained daily average d production of between370,000 and 400,000 linked cartridges, about 1600 complete belts of 250cartridges each, was attained per l6-hour day with practically no worktest rejections. A conservatively-estimated sustained increase in outputof about 35 to 40 percent was therefore obtained.

It will be clear from the foregoing that a machine equipped with myinvention attains the objects recited, and eifects a material reductionin costs pursuant to the fabrication of cartridges, links, and machineparts, as v/ell'as a corresponding reduction in plant equipment, laborcosts and overhead. It will be understood that if the links are fed intothe machine with the double loop forward in the direction of belttravel, the incilinations of the counterbore axis previously specified,will be reversed.

While a preferred form of the invention has been shown and described,various modifications and substitutions of equivalents will occur tothose skilled in the art after a study of the foregoing disclosure.Hence, the disclosures should be taken in an illustrative rather than alirnting sense, and it is the desire and intention to reserve allmodifications within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a machine for linking machine gun ammunition belts, a plurality ofsolid blocks pivotally interconnected in end-to-end relation to form anendless block belt, each said block having its outer face transverselyfluted to define a plurality of channels uniformly spaced in thedirection of belt travel, and an abutment plate secured to and along oneside edge of said block and having an edge projecting outwardly of theouter face of the block, said edge being serrated to pass with a smoothfit the bullet and the forward portion of the neck only of a cartridgeresting in a'respective channel, said edge being provided in itsconfronting face with a plurality of counterbores contiguous saidserrations, each said counterbore inclining both in a horizontal and avertical plane with respect to the axes of said serrations.

2. A unit for the loading belt of a machine for linking machine gunammunition belts, said unit comprising a block having one face fluted todefine a plurality of equally-spaced parallel channels extending fromside to side of said block, and an abutment plate secured to andcoextensive with, one side of said block, said plate having a serratededge upstanding above the fluted face of said block, the space betweenserrations being constructed and arranged to pass the bullet and theforward portion of the neck only of a cartridge resting inracorresponding one of said channels, said serrated upstanding edge beingprovided in its confronting face with a plurality of counterborescontiguous'said serrations, each said counterbore inclining rearwardlyand downwardly with respect to a the similarly inclined forward edge ofthe forward loop of an ammunition belt link when said link restswithin acorresponding channel.

3. A unit for the loading block belt of a machine for V linking machinegun ammunition belts of the disintegrating type, said unit comprising, ablock adapted to form a section of said block belt and having one facefluted to define equally-spaced parallel channels opening through sideedges thereof, each channel being adapted to receive the mating loopsof, consecutive links and a cartridge, and an abutment plate'secured toone side edge of said plate and coextensive therewith, said plate havinga serrated edge extending outwardly of the fluted surface of said blockto define a plurality of notches each aligned with a respective channel,each notch being adapted to pass the bullet and the forward portion ofthe neck only of a cartridge in the corresponding channel, there beingcounterbores in the confronting face of said plate each in sub stantialcorrespondence with a respective channel, each said counterbore havingan axis inclined at a small angle from the plane determined by the axesof said channels and also at a small angle in said plane, whereby theforward similarly inclined edge of the forward loop of a link resting inthe respective channel, has line contact with the bottom of saidcounterbore.

4. A unit for the loading block belt of a machine for linking machinegun ammunition belts of the disintegrating type, said unit comprising, arectangular block adapted to form a section of said block belt andhaving one face fluted to define a plurality of parallel, equally-spacedchannels opening through the side edges thereof and having coplanaraxes, each channel being adapted to receive the mating loops of a pairof consecutive ammunition belt links and a cartridge, in alignmentaxially of the channel, and an abutment plate integrally connected toand coextensive with one side edge of said block, said plate having aserrated edge outstanding beyond the fluted surface of said block todefine notches each aligned with a respective channel, each notch beingdimensioned to pass the bullet and the forward portion of the neck onlyof a cartridge in the corresponding channel, there being counterbores inthe confronting face of said plate each in substantial alignment with arespective channel, the axis of each counterbore being inclineddownwardly by about 2 from the common plane of the axes of said channelsand by about 5 rearwardly in said plane with respect to the direction 10of belt block travel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,335,646 Chalmers Nov. 30, 1943 15 2,356,158 Hall Aug. 22, 1944 FOREIGNPATENTS 300,379 Italy Sept. 7, 1932

